Not at all related to the stuff in part 1, but it got me thinking. I respect most of the folks on here as conservation minded anglers, so I would like to hear some opinions.
Let me start by saying I am not an avid bass fisherman, nor do I fish in tournaments. That's not what fishing is for me, but I do respect the right of those who do. However, with respect to all of the advances made in fish survival in bass tourneys, there may still more that can be done. My 2 pet peeves are fish flipped into the boat and flopping around on the carpet and fishing for bedding bass.
I did see one tourney somewhere on WFN where participants were assessed a penalty if their fish hit the carpet, so at least it's being recognized somewhere. I know many may say that these fish are released alive, but flopping around on a dry carpet loosing slime and banging their head can't be good for their long term survival. What else can be proposed?
I know bedding bass can be the biggest and therefore most appealing and make for good TV....BUT we can't complain about decline in fisheries and fish sizes when we take the largest specimens off their nests during their attempt to pass on their superior genes. To me the answer is simple...don't allow it, but obviously that wouldn't make for good TV....
Rant over.
Steve S